Cellular carton erecting machine



Sept. 30, 1952 H. R. HOUTMAN 2,612,036

CELLULAR CARTON ERECTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 L I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llm X07 :2? i z? ,Z/ W

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I INVENTOR. Harp/0 if. flay/man Sept. 30, 1952 HOUTMAN 2,612,086

CELLULAR CARTON ERECTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi/f 20 J0 Z a I j INVENTOR. f/dfo/d ff. flea/mar? Q/ZMI QM? Sept. 30, 1952 H. R. HOUTMAN CELLULAR CARTON ERECTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D90. 4, 1950 INVEQVTOR. v Ham/d K #0 297741? Mi g to each other.

Patented Sept. 30 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFnc-a Harold B: Houtmam, Kalamazoo, Mich... assignor to Sutherland Paper Mich.

Company, Kalamazoo,

Appllcation December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,060

(01'. sis-.31)

i 15 Claims; 1

This invention relates to improvements in cellu- -i Iar carton erecting machines.

' The main objects of this invention are:

Y First, to provide a machine for' use in erecting the partitions in egg cartons and like. cartons.-

which is highly efflcient and at the same time simple in operation.

Second, to provide a carton erecting machine 7 which is well adapted for the erecting of the partitions of cartons in which a part of the trans-i verse partitions must be swung-in one direction and a part in the opposite direction to erect them.

Third, to provide a machine of this character which insures the complete erectionof the transverse partitions on a single operating stroke.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a machine embodying my invention with a carton in erected position thereon, the carton being broken away and partially in longitudinal section.

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a line corresponding to broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with a carton in position thereon and with the carton support member and partition erecting fingers in 1 their normal or initial position.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 with the machine in actuated position.

Fig. 5' is a transverse section on a line corresponding to broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1 illustrating the initial positioning of the carton on the carton holder or support member.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view with the parts in actuated position and the carton completely erected.

Fig. 7 is a view of the partially erected carton,

-' the cover being cut away.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is particularly designed for the erection of a carton comprising front and rear sidewalls I and 2, the

rear side wall being provided with a cover extension 3. The bottom comprises upwardly inclined bottom sections 4. The longitudinal partition 5 is formed integrally with the bottom. The top member 6 is slit to provide sets of transverse-parti-ti'ons- 1 and 8 and intermediate partitions 9. The partitions l areswung in one direction when they are brought to. erected position, and the partitions 8 are swung in the opposite'direction, as is illustrated in the drawing. The partitions 9, intermediate the sets, are swung oppositely relative The machine is designed to receive. the-cartonsm partially erected inverted positiom'that is, the walls are adjusted to. partial Q erected positionas shown in Fig. 5-.

The embodiment. of. my invention-illustrated comprises. a portable base In havingan. upwardly projecting post: Hat. oneend thereot-andzon which the. carton support member designated "generally: by the numeral .l2 is pivotally mounted This. support member comprises atop generally designated by-the numeral M and sides generally designated-by the numeral l5. The top comprises inwardly inclinedportions [6, while the sides have. upper downwardly-diverging portions H which mergewith the; top. The top/is provided' with a pair of laterally spacedfixedpartition erecting members l8, which in the. embodimerit illustrated, have. rounded 611618619). :The in- .clinedportions 16. or the -top havelongitudinal 2 members. at 22. formed connected pairs. the pairs;- being; provided with integral bearingm'embers 2'3'receiving'thepivots: '22. The fingers areuarrangedfin versepartition members.

oppositely facing sets, the setsfiof fingers being connected by the links. Mend 25; so that all' of the fingers of a set are simultaneouslyoperated. The fingers. project through the slots Zllirrthe top of the support memberand are. provided with rounded noses 26 adapted to engage the'trans- When the partially erected carton" is positioned as. in'iF'igz'. 5i'and pushed downwardly, the fixed erectlng'members i8 engage the partition members ili and-deflect or force them to. erected position, as shown. in Fig. 3. This downward. movement also swings the. partitions l and 8: to partially-erected"position, as shown in Fig. 3. N

The sets of fingers are connected by the links 21 to the base, the links being disposed" in diverging relation and their lower ends mounted on the pivots 28. Their upper ends-areengaged' with the. pivots 29 on the. adjacent fingersof the sets.

When the support member is swung downwardly on its pivot to the position indicated in Fig14, the setsxof fingers are actuated in opposite'directions, and the tips of the partitions 'I- and B' a-re snapped through holes'30- provided' 'therefor" in the bottom of the carton, as is illustrated'in Figs.

1,4and6.

To. return the carton support member and the partition erecting fingers totheir-initial position, I provide a coiled extension spring? I, which is connected to the adjacent fingersof the sets so that the singlespri-ng" serves the'double 'function of returning K the fingers to initialposition and alsorreturning the support member toinltial position. The support member' is providedwith an adjustable stop 32 limiting its work stroke and with a stop 33 limiting its return stroke, the stop 33 being provided with a buffer 34.

To facilitate positioning of the partially erected carton, the support member is provided with an upwardly projecting positioning member 35 at its pivoted end. After the .support has been actuated, the carton is lifted off and another partially erected carton placed thereon. The erecting stroke is in effect a continuation of the movement placing the partially erected carton on the carton support.

With the aid of the machine of my invention, cartons may b very rapidly and efliciently erected. The machine illustrated is designed for erecting cartons having partitions which are swung in opposite directions. This disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to readily embody or adapt my invention for use in erecting cartons where the partitions are all swung in one direction. The structure illustrated is a highly practical commercial embodiment of my invention. I have not illustrated or described various modifications and adaptations which I contemplate or such as may be desirable for particular cartons, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

J 1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said base for vertical swinging movement, said support member being adapted to receive a partially -erected carton in inverted position and comprising transverse partitions,.said support member having a top comprising inwardly inclined po'rtions and having downwardly diverging side portions adjacent the said top portion, an upwardly projecting carton positioning member at the pivoted end of the support member, laterally spaced transversely aligned fixed partition erecting members having rounded ends projecting from the top portions intermediate the ends thereof, the top having longitudinal slots therein aligned with said partition erecting members, pairs of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member below the top thereof to project through said slots, said fingers having -rounded partition engaging noses, said pairs of fingers being arranged in oppositely facing sets, links connecting the fingers of the sets, oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said base and to the adjacent pairs of fingers of the sets whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions when the support member is actuated on its pivots, and a coil spring connecting said sets of fingers and acting to return them and the support member to initial position. 2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said base for vertical swinging movement, said support member being adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position and comprising transverse partitions, said support member having atop comprising inwardly inclined portions and having downwardly diverging side portions adjacent the said top portion, an upwardly projecting carton positioning member at the .pivoted end of the support member. laterally spaced transversely aligned fixed partition erecting members projecting from the top portions intermediate the ends thereof, the top having longitudinal slots therein aligned with said partition erecting members, pairs of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member below the top thereof to project through said slots, said pair of fingers being arranged in oppositely facing sets, links connecting the fingers of the sets, oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said base and to the adjacent pairs of fingers of the sets whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions when the support member is actuated on its pivots, and means acting to return the fingers and the support member to initial position.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said base for vertical swinging movement and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, a carton positioning member at the pivoted end of the support member, said support having laterally spaced transversely aligned fixed partition erecting members intermediate the ends thereof and longitudinal slots aligned with said partition erecting members, pairs of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member in oppositely facing sets to project through said slots, links connecting the fingers of the sets, links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions when the support member is actuated 'on its pivots, a spring connecting said sets of fingers and acting to return them and the support member to initial position, and an adjustable stop on said support member coacting with said base to limit the return stroke of the support member.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted at one end thereof onsaid base for vertical swinging movement and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, a carton positioning member at the pivoted end of the support member, said support having laterally spaced transversely aligned fixed partition erecting members intermediate the ends thereof and longitudinal slots aligned with said partition erecting members, pairs of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member in oppositely facing sets to project through said slots, links connecting the fingers of the sets, links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions when the support member is actuated on its pivots, and a spring connecting said sets of fingers and acting to return them and the support member to initial position.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted on said base for vertical swinging movement and being adapted to receive -a partially erected carton in inverted position, said support member having laterally spaced transversely aligned partition erecting members and longitudinal slots aligned with said partition erecting members, partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member to project through said slots, links connecting said fingers in sets, links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby the fingers of the sets are simultaneously actuated when the links connecting said fin ers in sets, links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby the fingers of the sets are simultaneously actuated when the support member is actuated on its pivot.

'7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member swingably mounted on said base and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, said support member having a fixed partition erecting member, sets of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member in aligned relation to said fixed member, the fingers of the sets being connected for simultaneous operation, operating connections for the sets to the base whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated when the support member is swung in one direction on its mounting, and means for automatically returning the support member and fingers to initial position.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member swingably mounted on said base and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, sets of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member, the fingers of the sets being connected for simultaneous operation, and operating connections for the sets to the base whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated when the support member is swung in one direction on its mounting.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted on said base for vertical swinging movement, said sup ort member being adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, an upwardly proiecting carton positioning member at the pivoted end of the support member, a fixed partition erecting member projecting from the top of the support member intermediate its ends, partition erecting fingers arranged in oppositely facing sets pivotally mounted on said support member to project above the top thereof, links connecting the fingers of the sets, and links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby the sets of fingers are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions when the support member is actuated on its pivots.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member pivotally mounted on, said base for vertical swinging movement, said support member being adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, sets of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member to project above the top thereof, means connecting the fingers of the sets, and links pivotally connected to said base and to the sets of fingers whereby they are simultaneously actuated when the support member is actuated on its pivots.

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member swingably mounted on said base and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted po: sition, partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member, a connecting link for said fingers, and a link connecting the fingers to the base whereby the fingers are actuated when the support member is swung in one direction.

12. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a portable base, a carton support member mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto, said support member being adapted to receive a carton in invertedposition and being provided with a carton positioning member at one end thereof, partition erecting fingers arranged in oppositely facing sets pivotally mounted on said support member to project therefrom, means connecting the fingers of the sets for simultaneous operation, links connecting the sets of fingers to the base whereby the fingers are actuated when the support memher is actuated on its work stroke, and means for automatically returning the carton support memher and said fingers to initial position when the support member is released.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a portabl base, a carton support member mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto, said support member being adapted to receive a carton in inverted position and being provided with a carton positionin member at one end thereof, sets of partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said support member to project therefrom, means connecting the fingers of the sets for simultaneous operation, and connections for operating said fingers to said base for actuating the sets of fingers when the support member is actuated on its work stroke.

14. In a structure of the class described, the

0 combination of a base, a carton support member swingably mounted on said base and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said carton support member to project from the top thereof, a link connecting said fingers for simultaneous operation, connections for the fingers to the base whereby the swinging movement of the carton support in one direction actuates said fingers, and spring means for returning said carton support member and fingers to their initial position when the support member is released.

15. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a base, a carton support member swingably mounted on said base and adapted to receive a partially erected carton in inverted position, partition erecting fingers pivotally mounted on said carton support member to project from the top thereof, a link connecting said fingers for simultaneous operation, and connections for the fingers to the base whereby the swinging movement of the carton support in one direction actuates said fingers.

HAROLD R. HOUTMAN.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

